Colostomy appliance



June 26, 1962 J. A. TEZAK 3,040,745 coLosToMY APPLIANCE Filed May 13,1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOSEPH A. TEZAK June 26, 1962 COLOSTOMYAPPLIANCE Filed May 13, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS J. A. TEZAK3,040,745

3,@403'45 Patented June 26, 1962 spasms CULSTMY APPLIANCE `losephTezalr, 2001 Plainfield Road, `Ioliet, Ill. Filed May 13, 1955, Ser. No.508,212 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-283) This invention relates to a device to beused in connectlon with artificial orifices in abdominal walls. Moreparticularly it relatesA to a colostomy appliance.

It is the object of this invention to provide a new and improvedcolostomy appliance which is simple and inexpensive in construction.

Another object is to provide a colostomy appliance which providesmaximum comfort for the wearer.

Still another object is to provide such a colostomy appliance whichminimizes vodors and facilitates the maintenance of sanitary conditionsin its use.

A still further object is to provide a colostomy appliance which iscomfortable to the wearer and otherwise possesses the foregoingcharacteristics and which has such dimensions that it is readilyconcealed by the clothing of the wearer and does not produce unsightlybulges therein.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

'I'hese and other objects and advantages of the invention will be betterunderstood from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe drawings which form a part ofthis specication. In the drawingswherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like partsthroughout:

FIGURE 1 is a View in perspective of a colostomy appliance involvingfeatures of the present invention, with portions broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional view taken onapproximately the line 2 2 in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view in front elevation with the belt removed;

FIGURE 4 is a reduced View also partly in cross section on the line 2 2in FIGURE 1 but showing how the device is arranged on the body of theuser and also illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 of still another embodiment oftheinvention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detailed cross sectional View taken onapproximately the line 6 6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a View in front elevation of the embodiment shown in FIGURE5 but with the belt removed;

FIGURE 8 is a reduced View, partly in cross section, on the line 6 6 inFIGURE S but showing how the device illustrated in FIGURE 5 is arrangedon the body of the user;

FIGURE 9 is an exploded View in side elevation of the parts of thedevice shown in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE l is a greatly enlarged View of a portion of the device shown inFIGURE in cross `section on line 6 5 in that FIGURE.

As may be seen in the drawings, the colostomy appliance shown in FIGURESl to 5 and designated generally 1t) comprises a foam or sponge rubberpad 12 intertting with a rigid ring-like member 14. The pad 12, which ispreferably formed of foam rubber, such as that sold under thetrade-'narks Koylon, Foamex and Airfoam, is generally circular in formand is provided with a relatively large central aperture 15 extendingfrom the inner face 1S to the outer face 2li. The pad 12 is provided onits outer side with a neck portion 22 concentric with the opening 16 andwith an annular shoulder 24 sloping outwardly from the base of the neckportion 22 to the outer edge of the pad 12. The inner face of the pad,as may be seen, is preferably dat.

The ring 14, with which the pad 12 interlits, is provided on its outeredge with a relatively narrow flange 26 and on its inner edge with abroader ilange 28 somewhat narrower than the shoulder 24 on pad 12 butcorrespondingly sloped outwardly. At diametrically opposite point-s onthe outer face of the ilange 2S suitable fastening means, lsuch as malesnap fastener members 30, are mounted to be engaged with female fastenermembers 32 secured on the opposite ends of a preferably elastic belt 34by which the appliance 1li is held on lthe body of the wearer, asindicated by the broken lines 36 in FIGURE 4.

The rigid ring 14 may be formed of any desired material. It should belight in weight and preferably is formed of plastic or a light metalsuch as aluminum. j

For example, 20 gauge aluminum has been found satisfactory. Although thering 14 may be made in various sizes as desired, one satisfactory sizeconsists of a ring having approximately 5" outside diameter, an innerflange approximately 1" wide and an outer flange approximately 1A widewith an intervening neck portion substantially 3/8 high. Theslope on theinner ange 2d was approximately l; of an inch to the inch. As may beseen, the foregoing dimensions leave a central opening fnl in the ring14 approximately 3 in diameter. For use with such a ring the pad 12 ispreferably formed approximately 6" in outside diameter and provided witha neck portion 22 approximately 3" in diameter -to lit snugly in theneck portion 40 of the ring 14. Preferably this neck portion extends outfrom the body of the pad 12 a distance of approximately 3/scorresponding to the dimensions of the ring 14. The central opening 16in a pad 12 of the foregoing `dimensions is preferably 11A in diameter.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 a circularshallow bag 42 is provided to receive any discharge that may come fromthe opening to which the appliance 11i is fitted. The bag 42, which ispreferably formed of a thin plastic sheet material, is provided with alarge opening surrounded by an elastic band 44. This band 44 whenexpanded will slip over the ange 26 and then press tightly against theneck 40 of ythe ring 14, thereby tightly securing the bag in place overthe opening in the ring 14 and concentric opening 16 through the pad 12.In this Way any discharge from the opening 16 is caught in the -bag 42.

The relatively small bag '42 which is shown partly broken away in FIGURE1 is satisfactory to those who practice colostomy control. For those whodo not, however, an alternative type of bag 46y as shown in FIGURE 4 isprovided. The bag t6 as may ybe seen is considerably larger than the bag42 but is provided with an opening of the same size as that provided inthe bag 42 and this opening is similarly surrounded by an elastic bandi8 which may be expanded to pass over the ange 26 and which thencontracts to press tightly 'against the neck portion 4t) of the ring 14.

FIGURES 5 to 10 inclusive illustrate still another embodiment of theinvention in which the bulk of the appliance is still further decreasedto aid in concealing the presence of the appliance under the clothing ofthe wearer. This embodiment designated `generally 50 utilizes the samefoam or sponge rubber pad 12 above described but employs with it a ring52 which is the llange 2S of the ring 14 with the neck portion 40 andthe flange 26 omitted. As may be seen in FIGURE 6, the ring 52 like theflange 23 has an inner diameter substantially the same as that of theneck portion 22 of the pad 12k and slopes outwardly from this inneropening. This ring 52, also similarly to the fla-nge 28, is somewhatnarrower than the shoulder 24 of the pad 12. As suggested above, thering 52 may be formed of the same material as the ring 14 and issimilarly provided at diametrically opposite points with suitablefastening means such :as the male snap fastening members 54 which aremounted on the ring to be engaged with the female members 32 secured onthe opposite ends of the preferably elastic belt 34 described above inconnection with the embodiment shown in FlGURE 1.

Any desired type of bag, Vsuch as the bag S6 shown in FGURE .9, may beemployed in this embodiment to receive any discharge that mayV come fromthe opening to which theappliance V50 is fitted. This bag 56, which ispreferably formed of a thin plastic sheet'material like the bags 42 and46, diiers from these bags in that it does not include an elastic bandaround the opening therein; Instead, a relatively narrow and .preferablyflat ring S3 which may be Substantially thinner than the ring 52 isutilized. The inner diameter of the opening in ring 58 is substantiallythe same as that of the ring 52 but the ring 58 may be and preferably isconsiderably narrower than the ring 52. The Walls of the bag 56surrounding the opening therein are folded over the ring 58 and the ringis then slipped over the neck 22 of the pad 12 as shown in'FIGURE 6.Preferably as illustrated in FIG- URE'9 the bag 56 is inserted throughthe opening in ringSS so that its walls when folded over this ring havetheir freeedges outside the bag. The ringSZ is then slipped over the bag56 and pressed in about the Vneck 22 of pad 12 thereby securelymaintaining the bag in position covering the openingr 16 so that it maycatch any discharge from this opening.

Many of the advantages of the invention will be ap-V parent from theforegoing description. The improved colostomy appliance described issimple in construction and light in Weight 4and at the same time is ofsuch dimensions that it can be readily concealed beneath the clothing ofthe wearer. The sponge pad pressed against the body of the wearer by theringsr 14 and 52 is comparatively comfortable a`nd at the same timeprovides a tight seal which avoids undesirable odors and maintainssanitary conditions. The pad, which is'readily separated from the ring,is easily washedV with soap and water. The plastic bags likewise arereadily removable and may be disposed of by'ushing down a toilet orotherwise, or washed clean simply with soap and Water if so desired. Thecompressibility of the foam rubber pad further aids in minimizing thebulge produced in the clothing of the wearer by Ithe presence of theappliance. A fewpieces of toilet tissue in the bag `further aid inmaintaining comfort and sanitation byV absorbing any mucous discharge.The comparatively large opening in the pad serves to protect thecolostomy from pressure and injury.

It is apparent that many widely dilerent embodiments of this inventionmay be made without departing from vthe spirit and scope. thereof and,therefore, it is not intended to beY limited except as indicated intheappended claims. I

I claim:

1. A colostomy appliance comprising a `foam rubber body engaging padhaving a central opening therein surrounded by an annular raised portionand adapted to register with the colostomy when the'pad is positioned onthe body of the wearer, a rigid lightweight supporting ring adapted topress Vagainst the exposed face of the pad, the central opening in theVsaid ring receiving the said annular raised portion and having aninternal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of saidraised portion to provide a snug tit, a resilient belt, means on saidbelt cooperatingY with means on said ring to detachably secure theopposite ends of said belt to substantially diametrically opposed pointson said ring, a

receptacle having an opening therein, a second ring havingan'internaldiameter substantially the same as that in said lirst namedring and adapted to be positioned within said receptacle, the-Walls ofthe said receptacle surrounding the opening therein being folded overand extending down through the inner opening in said second ring andsaid second ring being located between said pad and said lirst namedring and securing the said receptacle over the opening in the said padto provide communication between Vsaid opening and said receptacle.

. 2. A colostomy appliance comprising a resilient and compressible bodyengaging pad having a central opening therein surrounded by a raisedportion and adapted to register withrthe colostomy when the pad ispositioned on the body of Vthe wearer, a rigid lightweight supportingmember consisting of a sloping ring adapted to press against the exposedface of the pad and having a central opening therein adapted snugly toreceive the said raised portion, means for supporting the said supportmember on the body of the wearer and a receptacle communieating with andclosing the outer end of the said opening in the support member 'andproviding a receptacle for matter discharged from the colostomy, thewalls of said receptacle being folded over a second narrower ringpositioned -between said irst named ring and said pad.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FranceNov. 28,

